Wake Forest Men Picked First in ACC Men’s Cross Country Preseason Poll
8/21/2025 2:02:00 PM | Cross Country
The Demon Deacons earned 15 of 17 first-place votes as they look to repeat as ACC Men's Cross Country Champions in 2025.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – After earning their second ACC Cross Country Championship over the past three seasons in 2024, the Wake Forest men's cross country team was picked as the favorites to repeat as ACC Champions in the 2025 ACC men's cross country preseason poll, as announced by the league on Thursday afternoon.
The Demon Deacons finished with 285 total points, which is 27 more than second-place Virginia (258). In total, the Deacs received 15 of a possible 17 first-place votes, with Virginia and Notre Dame earning the other two votes.
This marks the second-time in the past four seasons that the men's cross country team have been selected first in the preseason poll, with the Deacs being chosen as preseason favorites ahead of their ACC Championship winning season in 2022.
Meanwhile, the Wake Forest women's cross country team was picked eighth for the second-consecutive season in the ACC women's cross country preseason poll.
Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll
1. Wake Forest (15), 285
2. Virginia (1), 258
3. Stanford, 256
T4. North Carolina, 226
T4. Notre Dame (1), 226
6. Syracuse, 211
7. Virginia Tech, 176
8. NC State, 161
T9. Florida State, 131
T9. Duke, 131
11. California, 126
12. Louisville, 100
13. Georgia Tech, 94
T14. Boston College, 74
T14. Pitt, 74
16. Clemson, 45
17. Miami, 22
Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll
1. NC State (12), 308
2. Notre Dame (6), 301
3. Stanford, 289
4. North Carolina, 267
5. Virginia, 254
6. Boston College, 212
7. Florida State, 207
8. Wake Forest, 192
9. Clemson, 176
10. Syracuse, 174
11. Louisville, 152
12. Duke, 122
13. Virginia Tech, 108
14. Georgia Tech, 99
15. SMU, 85
16. California, 61
17. Pitt, 44
18. Miami, 26
Returning Production
The Wake Forest men's cross country team enters the 2025 season returning a large portion of their squad from last season, including four of the top five finishers at the 2024 Cross Country Championship, as well as rising junior phenom Rocky Hansen.
JoJo Jourdon was named ACC Freshman of the Year after an impressive debut campaign, including placing eighth at ACC Championship meet to earn All-ACC honors. In addition, Jourdon placed 47th at the NCAA Championships to help push the Deacs to a seventh-place finish as a team.
Charlie Sprott, who took home the ACC Freshman of the Year award in 2023, earned All-American honors after placing 32nd at the NCAA Championships. Sprott also claimed All-ACC and All-Region honors last season.
Aiden Ross and Joe O'Brien took home All-ACC honors last season after finishing 15th and 16th, respectively. O'Brien also claimed All-Region honors, having placed 19th at the NCAA Southeast Regional following a personal-best result in the 10k.
On the women's side, the Demon Deacons will return three All-Region and two All-ACC honorees from last season.
After becoming the first Demon Deacon to claim All-ACC honors since 2019 as a freshman, Brooke Wilson earned both All-ACC and All-Region honors during her sophomore season.
Rising junior Angelina Perez also claimed both All-ACC and All-Region honors to cap off an incredible first season at Wake Forest, while Elizabeth Whaley closed out her junior season with a 23rd-place finish at the NCAA Southeast Region to earn All-Region honors.
The John Hayes Era
Since arriving in Winston-Salem in 2016, Hayes has helped the men's cross country team grow into a national powerhouse. Under his leadership, the Demon Deacons have claimed two ACC titles in 2022 and 2024, resulting in Hayes earning ACC Coach of the Year honors both years. Hayes was also named USTFCCCA Southeast Region Coach Of The Year four of the last five seasons (2020-22, 2024).
Along with their success in the ACC, the Deacs have also earned a spot at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in five consecutive seasons, extending the longest streak in program history. During this five-year stretch, Wake Forest has finished inside the top-10 twice, including a program-best fifth-place finish in 2022.
Over the course of his tenure with the Deacs, Hayes has produced six All-Americans, including Zach Facioni, the first three-time All-American in program history. Hayes has also coached four ACC Freshman of the Year performers, including back-to-back winners in Charlie Sprott (2023) and JoJo Jourdon (2024), and 14 All-ACC honorees.
Women's Program on the Rise
Since arriving in Winston-Salem in 2019, associate head coach Ashley Bastron has helped lead the Wake Forest women's cross country program into a period of steady success. Over her tenure with the Demon Deacons, Bastron has helped produce seven All-Region performers, as well as four All-ACC honorees.
In her first cross country season with the Demon Deacons, Wake Forest's women placed sixth at the ACC Championships and had two All-ACC performers, Elise Wright (14th) and Samantha Halvorsen (19th). The team then went on to finish fourth at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship with two All-Region performers, Halvorsen (13th) and Madeline Rehm (22nd).
In 2023, she coached three All-Region honorees (Brooke Wilson, Caroline Garrett, Lydia van Dijk) in addition to Brooke Wilson being named All-ACC as a true freshman.
During the 2024 season, the women's cross country team continued to improve under Bastron's leadership, as she coached three All-Region honorees (Angelina Perez, Brooke Wilson, Elizabeth Whaley). In addition, freshman Angelina Perez earned All-ACC honors in her debut season while Brooke Wilson added her second-consecutive honor.
2025 Slate
The Demon Deacons will open up their 2025 season in a dual meet against UNCG at Salem Lake on Aug. 29. The women's program will travel down to Charlotte to compete in the Queen City Invite.
A week later, the Wake Forest men will head to Cary, N.C. for the adidas Wolfpack Invitational. The Demon Deacons will make their first trip outside of North Carolina on Sept. 26, as both teams are set to compete in the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Mo.
In October, the women's team will participate in the Royals Challenge in Charlotte (Oct. 10), before concluding their regular season at the Arturo Barrios Invitational in College Station, Texas the following Friday (Oct. 17). Meanwhile, the men will close out their 2025 regular season with a trip to Earlysville, Va. to compete at the Panorama Farms Invitational on the same day.
Postseason opens up for the Deacs on Oct. 31, as the Demon Deacons will look to defend their ACC title on the men's side during the 2025 ACC Cross Country Championships, with this year's event being held in Louisville, Ky.
The NCAA Southeast Region will take place on Nov. 14 in Earlysville, Va., while the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championships will be held in Columbia, Mo. on Nov. 22.
2024 Season Highlights
Program History/Accolades (Men)
Program History/Accolades (Women)
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The Demon Deacons finished with 285 total points, which is 27 more than second-place Virginia (258). In total, the Deacs received 15 of a possible 17 first-place votes, with Virginia and Notre Dame earning the other two votes.
This marks the second-time in the past four seasons that the men's cross country team have been selected first in the preseason poll, with the Deacs being chosen as preseason favorites ahead of their ACC Championship winning season in 2022.
Meanwhile, the Wake Forest women's cross country team was picked eighth for the second-consecutive season in the ACC women's cross country preseason poll.
Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll
1. Wake Forest (15), 285
2. Virginia (1), 258
3. Stanford, 256
T4. North Carolina, 226
T4. Notre Dame (1), 226
6. Syracuse, 211
7. Virginia Tech, 176
8. NC State, 161
T9. Florida State, 131
T9. Duke, 131
11. California, 126
12. Louisville, 100
13. Georgia Tech, 94
T14. Boston College, 74
T14. Pitt, 74
16. Clemson, 45
17. Miami, 22
Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll
1. NC State (12), 308
2. Notre Dame (6), 301
3. Stanford, 289
4. North Carolina, 267
5. Virginia, 254
6. Boston College, 212
7. Florida State, 207
8. Wake Forest, 192
9. Clemson, 176
10. Syracuse, 174
11. Louisville, 152
12. Duke, 122
13. Virginia Tech, 108
14. Georgia Tech, 99
15. SMU, 85
16. California, 61
17. Pitt, 44
18. Miami, 26
Returning Production
The Wake Forest men's cross country team enters the 2025 season returning a large portion of their squad from last season, including four of the top five finishers at the 2024 Cross Country Championship, as well as rising junior phenom Rocky Hansen.
JoJo Jourdon was named ACC Freshman of the Year after an impressive debut campaign, including placing eighth at ACC Championship meet to earn All-ACC honors. In addition, Jourdon placed 47th at the NCAA Championships to help push the Deacs to a seventh-place finish as a team.
Charlie Sprott, who took home the ACC Freshman of the Year award in 2023, earned All-American honors after placing 32nd at the NCAA Championships. Sprott also claimed All-ACC and All-Region honors last season.
Aiden Ross and Joe O'Brien took home All-ACC honors last season after finishing 15th and 16th, respectively. O'Brien also claimed All-Region honors, having placed 19th at the NCAA Southeast Regional following a personal-best result in the 10k.
On the women's side, the Demon Deacons will return three All-Region and two All-ACC honorees from last season.
After becoming the first Demon Deacon to claim All-ACC honors since 2019 as a freshman, Brooke Wilson earned both All-ACC and All-Region honors during her sophomore season.
Rising junior Angelina Perez also claimed both All-ACC and All-Region honors to cap off an incredible first season at Wake Forest, while Elizabeth Whaley closed out her junior season with a 23rd-place finish at the NCAA Southeast Region to earn All-Region honors.
The John Hayes Era
Since arriving in Winston-Salem in 2016, Hayes has helped the men's cross country team grow into a national powerhouse. Under his leadership, the Demon Deacons have claimed two ACC titles in 2022 and 2024, resulting in Hayes earning ACC Coach of the Year honors both years. Hayes was also named USTFCCCA Southeast Region Coach Of The Year four of the last five seasons (2020-22, 2024).
Along with their success in the ACC, the Deacs have also earned a spot at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in five consecutive seasons, extending the longest streak in program history. During this five-year stretch, Wake Forest has finished inside the top-10 twice, including a program-best fifth-place finish in 2022.
Over the course of his tenure with the Deacs, Hayes has produced six All-Americans, including Zach Facioni, the first three-time All-American in program history. Hayes has also coached four ACC Freshman of the Year performers, including back-to-back winners in Charlie Sprott (2023) and JoJo Jourdon (2024), and 14 All-ACC honorees.
Women's Program on the Rise
Since arriving in Winston-Salem in 2019, associate head coach Ashley Bastron has helped lead the Wake Forest women's cross country program into a period of steady success. Over her tenure with the Demon Deacons, Bastron has helped produce seven All-Region performers, as well as four All-ACC honorees.
In her first cross country season with the Demon Deacons, Wake Forest's women placed sixth at the ACC Championships and had two All-ACC performers, Elise Wright (14th) and Samantha Halvorsen (19th). The team then went on to finish fourth at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship with two All-Region performers, Halvorsen (13th) and Madeline Rehm (22nd).
In 2023, she coached three All-Region honorees (Brooke Wilson, Caroline Garrett, Lydia van Dijk) in addition to Brooke Wilson being named All-ACC as a true freshman.
During the 2024 season, the women's cross country team continued to improve under Bastron's leadership, as she coached three All-Region honorees (Angelina Perez, Brooke Wilson, Elizabeth Whaley). In addition, freshman Angelina Perez earned All-ACC honors in her debut season while Brooke Wilson added her second-consecutive honor.
2025 Slate
The Demon Deacons will open up their 2025 season in a dual meet against UNCG at Salem Lake on Aug. 29. The women's program will travel down to Charlotte to compete in the Queen City Invite.
A week later, the Wake Forest men will head to Cary, N.C. for the adidas Wolfpack Invitational. The Demon Deacons will make their first trip outside of North Carolina on Sept. 26, as both teams are set to compete in the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Mo.
In October, the women's team will participate in the Royals Challenge in Charlotte (Oct. 10), before concluding their regular season at the Arturo Barrios Invitational in College Station, Texas the following Friday (Oct. 17). Meanwhile, the men will close out their 2025 regular season with a trip to Earlysville, Va. to compete at the Panorama Farms Invitational on the same day.
Postseason opens up for the Deacs on Oct. 31, as the Demon Deacons will look to defend their ACC title on the men's side during the 2025 ACC Cross Country Championships, with this year's event being held in Louisville, Ky.
The NCAA Southeast Region will take place on Nov. 14 in Earlysville, Va., while the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championships will be held in Columbia, Mo. on Nov. 22.
2024 Season Highlights
- Men's Cross Country
- At the highly competitive Nuttycombe Invitational on Sept. 27 in Madison, Wisc., Wake Forest secured third place, finishing ahead of eight top-20 teams, including No. 6 North Carolina.
- Sophomore Rocky Hansen ran a career-best to take second, just 2.9 seconds behind Parker Wolfe (UNC), while senior Luke Tewalt placed 10th in 23:32.3. Sophomores Charlie Sprott (24:00.2), Aidan Ross (24:02.6), and Daniel Winter (24:26.7) rounded out the top five, with Sprott and Ross in the top 40.
- The Demon Deacons capped their regular season with a dominant win at the Panorama Farms Invitational in Charlottesville, Va., topping 18 teams with 38 points. The Deacons placed five runners in the top 15 and eight in the top 50, with nine personal bests achieved.
- Standout performer Luke Tewalt came out on top, accomplishing a second-place finish in 23:12.1, exceeding his time of 23:32.3 at the squad's last meet at the Nuttycombe Invitational. Right behind Tewalt followed Aidan Ross collecting a personal-best and a fifth-place finish, posting 23:27.8.
- Hunter Jones carried out an eighth place finish at 23:31.8, surpassing his previous 8k time of 24:02.3. Following a top-40 finish at the Nuttycombe Invitational, Charlie Sprott impressed with a 10th place finish, clocking 23:32.3.
- The Demon Deacons claimed the 2024 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championship, marking the program's sixth title and the 58th overall ACC Championship for Wake Forest athletics.
- All of the Demon Deacons' top-five spread garnered All-ACC honors by finishing in the top 21, the only team in the field to accomplish this.
- With four runners placing in the top 15 and six finishing in the top 50, Wake Forest surged ahead of No. 5 Stanford accumulating a total of 60 points in the 8k.
- Luke Tewalt headlined with a seventh-place finish in 22:39.0, smashing his personal best and became the fourth Wake Forest runner in program history to earn All-ACC honors on three separate occasions and first since his former teammate Zach Facioni.
- Freshman JoJo Jourdon (8th, 22:40.1) was named ACC Freshman of the Year, continuing Wake Forest's streak of standout newcomers. All-ACC honorees Charlie Sprott (14th), Aidan Ross (15th), and Joseph O'Brien (16th) also set personal bests.
- On Nov. 15 in Rock Hill, S.C. Wake Forest secured a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Southeast Regional, clinching their spot at the NCAA Championships for the fifth-consecutive season.
- All-Region honorees Joe O'Brien (30:01.7), Charlie Sprott (30:02.1), and Luke Tewalt (30:14.2) posted 10th, 11th, and 15th place finishes.
- O'Brien and Tewalt earned All-Region honors for the second-consecutive year.
- All-Region honorees Joe O'Brien (30:01.7), Charlie Sprott (30:02.1), and Luke Tewalt (30:14.2) posted 10th, 11th, and 15th place finishes.
- At the highly competitive Nuttycombe Invitational on Sept. 27 in Madison, Wisc., Wake Forest secured third place, finishing ahead of eight top-20 teams, including No. 6 North Carolina.
- Women's Cross Country
- In one of the most stacked events of the 2024 fall calendar, sophomore Brooke Wilson steered the course in the women's 6k as she clocked 20:52.7 en route to a 40th place finish at the Nuttycombe Invitational (9/27) in Madison, Wisc.
- Elizabeth Whaley (21:15.2) and Molly Dreher (21:18.1) finished 78th and 80th, respectively. Alli Boehm and Angelina Perez rounded out the top-five spread which helped the squad finish above two ranked teams in Northwestern (No. 24) and Iowa State (No. 30).
- Sophomore Grace Wassell delivered an impressive fourth-place individual finish at the Royals XC Challenge (10/11) in Charlotte, N.C., shattering her previous 5k personal-best by clocking an outstanding 17:17.01 and leading the Demon Deacons to a first-place finish.
- Following an incredible run, Wassell was tabbed ACC Performer of the Week, as announced by the league office Tuesday, October 15.
- Angelina Perez (20:13.1) and Brooke Wilson (20:18.6) took 49th and 59th place out of 250 performers at Pre-Nationals (10/10) in Madison, Wisc.. It marked a new career-best for Perez. ACC Performer of the Week Grace Wassell, also earned a personal-best finish with a time of 21:14.2.
- All-ACC honorees Angelina Perez and Brooke Wilson excelled in the 6k, propelling their squad to a strong ninth-place finish at the women's ACC Championships (11/1). Out of 164 runners, Perez claimed an impressive 15th place with a personal-best time of 20:00.7, significantly improving on her previous mark of 20:13.1 at Pre-Nationals. Wilson followed closely, delivering a powerful performance to secure 19th place.
- Propelled by strong showings from Wilson and Perez, the Demon Deacons placed an incredible fourth-place at the NCAA Southeast Regional
- Perez capped-off her freshman campaign with a 10th-place finish with a time of 20:47.2 to earn All-Region honors.
- Wilson and Whaley also earned All-Region honors, with Wilson posting a personal-best time of 21:01.1 to place 17th.
- In one of the most stacked events of the 2024 fall calendar, sophomore Brooke Wilson steered the course in the women's 6k as she clocked 20:52.7 en route to a 40th place finish at the Nuttycombe Invitational (9/27) in Madison, Wisc.
Program History/Accolades (Men)
- NCAA Championship Appearances (14)
- 1988 (14th), 1989 (3rd), 1990 (18th), 1992 (9th), 1993 (20th), 1995 (20th), 1996 (11th), 2000 (18th), 2001 (19th), 2021 Spring (15th), 2021 Fall (10th), 2022 (5th), 2023 (24th), 2024 (7th)
- ACC Champions
- Team (6)
- 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 2022, 2024
- Individual (2)
- Nolan Swanson (1996) and Nathan Sisco (2001)
- Team (6)
- All-Americans (8)
- John Hume (1989), Ben Schoonover (1989), Jon Russell (1996), Nolan Swanson (1997), Zach Facioni (2020, 2021, 2022), Aaron Las Heras (2022), Luke Tewalt (2022), Charlie Sprott (2024)
- All-ACC (38)
- Ron Rick (1985), Bill Babcock (1988, 1989), Scott Hayward (1988) Jon Hume (1988, 1989), Ben Schoonover (1989, 1990), John Sence (1989, 1990, 1991), Kyle Armentrout (1990, 1993), Eric Lorenz (1991), Stuart Burnham (1992, 1993), Brant Armentrout (1992, 1993), Pat Phillips (1992, 1993), Dennis Hearst (1993), Craig Longhurst (1994), Eric Dunn (1994, 1996), Ben Boyd (1994, 1996), Paul Kinser (1995), Jon Russell (1995, 1996), Nolan Swanson (1995, 1996, 1997), Stephan Pro (1998) Ted DeVos (2000) Chris Estwanik (2001) Garick Hill (2001), Nathan Sisco (2001), Sean Stevens (2003, 2005), Mitchell Day (2017), Zach Facioni (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022), Jack Tiernan (2019), Carter Coughlin (2020), Jonathan Velasco (2020), Ben Mitchell (2020), Coen Roberts (2020), Aaron Las Heras (2021, 2022), Luke Tewalt (2022, 2023, 2024), Thomas Vanoppen (2022), Joe O'Brien (2023, 2024), Charlie Sprott (2024), Aidan Ross (2024), and JoJo Jourdon (2024)
- ACC Freshman of the Year (4)
- Mitchell Day (2017), Zach Facioni (2018), Charlie Sprott (2023), JoJo Jourdon (2024)
Program History/Accolades (Women)
- NCAA Championship Appearances (11)
- 1987 (10th), 1992 (19th), 1994 (12th), 1997 (17th), 1998 (15th), 2000 (29th), 2002 (9th), 2003 (21st), 2004 (19th), 2005 (17th), 2006 (27th)
- ACC Champions
- Team (1)
- 2002 (Co-Champions)
- Individual (2)
- Seana Arnold (1989) and Janelle Kraus (1997, 1998)
- Team (1)
- All-Americans (9)
- Karen Dunn (1985), Jennifer Rioux (1987), Seana Arnold (1989), Nicole Stevenson (1993), Janelle Kraus (1997, 1998, 1999), Annie Bersagel (2002, 2003, 2005), Selina Sekulic (2004), Michelle Sikes (2006), Samantha Jones (2015)
- All-ACC (28)
- Karen Dunn (1985, 1986), Jennifer Rioux (1985, 1986, 1987), Sue Vander Wagen (1986, 1987), Monica Magnusson (1987), Anne Letko (1988), Seana Arnold (1989), Liz Becker (1989), Mary Powell (1989, 1990), Jennifer Finnegan (1992, 1994), Cynthia Moreshead (1992, 1995), Nicole Stevenson (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995), Liz Cotter (1996), Janelle Kraus (1997, 1998), Kelly Brady (1997), Sara Day (2000), Annie Bersagel (2002, 2005), Risa Rutland (2002), Anna Sherman (2003), Michelle Sikes (2003, 2004, 2006), Selina Sekulic (2004), Allison Kieffer (2008), Anna Nosenko (2010), Nicole Irving (2011, 2012), Samantha Jones (2014, 2015), Sam Halvorsen (2017, 2018, 2019), Elise Wright (2019), Brooke Wilson (2023, 2024), Angelina Perez (2024)
- ACC Freshman of the Year (2)
- Michelle Sikes (2003) and Anna Nosenko (2008)
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